Feeding a Picky Eater: The Do's and Don'ts
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Health Tip of the Week Is your 5-year-old still eating the same three foods she’s liked since age 2 — and little else? Do you worry she’ll be off to college some day and still never know the joys of fruits or vegetables?
You’re not alone. “I’ve worked with children and parents for 12 years, and parents of picky eaters are among the most miserable, and the older their picky eater gets, the more worried they become about their child's future,” says Katherine Dahlsgaard, PhD, ABPP, clinical director of the Anxiety Behaviors Clinic and the Picky Eaters Clinic in CHOP’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
“It is heartbreaking for parents when their kids don’t enjoy family meals, eat like all the other kids at birthday parties, or participate in big celebrations like Thanksgiving,” she says.
With the right treatment, however, even extremely picky eaters can successfully broaden the range of foods they eat comfortably. The key, says Dr. Dahlsgaard, is treatment that involves and empowers the parents. In fact, Dr. Dahlsgaard just published the results of her treatment program for picky eaters in a recent issue of Cognitive and Behavioral Practice.
Through this brief treatment — based on the principles of exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) — parents themselves are trained to coach their children to try new foods on a daily basis.
We asked Dr. Dahlsgaard for her “do’s” and “don’ts” when it comes to feeding picky eaters — and how to tell when it’s time to seek professional help.
If you think your child is a severe picky eater, be sure to seek out a professional who has extensive experience treating the problem. At CHOP, psychologists like Dr. Dahlsgaard can help parents faced with this issue learn to use a method that rewards children for trying different foods and adding new options to their diet.
“Children should learn how to overcome extreme picky eating not just for the sake of their physical health, but for a greater sense of well-being. Eating a range of foods and enjoying a meal are critical to a well-lived life,” adds Dr. Dahlsgaard.
Categories: Health & Wellness, Parenting
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